Mail-distributing apparatus.



ANo. 803,968.

PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905. W. BARRY. .MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1900. RENEWBD DBO 10,1903.

.L T E un. H A. S T E E H S oo No. 803,968. PATRNTED NOV. 7, 1905. W. BARRY.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED mmf/,1900. RBNEWED DB0. 10,1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEBT 2,

PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905.

W. BARRY.

MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY?, 1900. BHNBWBD DB0 10,1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

No. 803,968. I PATENTED NOV. '7, 1905. W. BARRY.

MAIL DISTRIBUT'ING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY'?, 1900. EENEWED DEC 10,1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.,

Rw 0 9 l 7.., V. O N D E ml N E T A.. D1. Yy R R A B W om 6 9; 3 0 8 m N MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY7,1900, RBNEWED DEG. 10,1903.

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PATENTED NOV. '7, 1905.

W. BARRY. MAIL DISTRIBUTING'APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FILED MAY7,1900. RENEWBD DB0 10,1903.

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W. BARRY. MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY?, 1900. RENEWED DE()` 10,1903.

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1i: I 67 j :A @soy muli amarrl www PATENTED NOV. '7, 1905. Y

W. BARRY. MAIL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED unf/,1900. RENEWED DB0 10,1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

'WILLIAM BARRY, OF OSVEGO, NEW YORK.

IVI-AlL-DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 7', 1905.

Application filed May 7, 1900. Renewed December 10, 1903. Serial No.184,680.

10 a/ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BARRY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oswego, county of Oswego, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Distributing Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in mail-distributing apparatus, and the objects and nature of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of the accompanying drawings, which merely show a construction as an example for the purposes of explanation from among many other constructions within the spirit and scope of my invention.

My invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations and in arrangements of parts and details, as more fully and particularly pointed Vout and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus looking at the back of the case of boxes, a portion of the frame being broken away, one key-bar being shown depressed, and the operative parts shown in their normal positions which they assume after completing their various strokes and in readiness to again start on their various movements to convey a letter to the particular box indicated by the key depressed, the key-bar and gates and stop controlled thereby being held set by the locking means until the depression of another key-bar, whereupon the previously-depressed key-bar and parte` controlled thereby are released and return to their normal positions under the action of springs and gravity. Fig. 2 is an elevation looking at the front of the case of boxes, a portion of the boxes and apparatus being broken away, the parts being shown in the same relative positions as shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the apparatus, the parts being all shown in their normal positions. Fig. 4 is a front elevation, one key being shown depressed and the lift or main letter conveyer' being shown opposite the box-passage of 'the second row or tier of boxes from the top. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 5, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is ahorizontal section on the line 6 6, Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a sectional side elevation of the main letter-conveyer, a portion of a frameupright being shown. Fig. 8 is a detail front elevation of the main letter-conveyer. Fig. 9 is a detail vertical section on the line 9 9, Fig. 2, but showing the parts in their normal positions. Fig. 10 is a detail vertical section on the line 10 10, Fig. 11, the ratchet-wheel being partially broken away, the parts being shownin their normal positions. Figgll is a detail cross-section on the line 11 11,Fig.`1,looking toward the left,the parts being shown in their normal positions. Fig. l2 is a detail view showing the feed-rolls in end elevation, illustrating the throat through which the letters are successively forced to said rolls and one of the swinging pusher-fingers which force the letters into the main conveyer after th ey have passed between the rolls. Fig. 13 is a detail perspective of one of the light yielding separator-fingers which extend across the path of the letters at the throat through which the letters move into the feed-rolls. Fig. 14 is a detail crosssection through the case of boxes, showing two of the branch passages, their rakes or letter-movers, and the box-gates being shown in end elevation looking toward the rear of Said passages, various parts being broken away and other parts not being shownl Fig. 15 is a detail elevation, partially in section, showing the main letter-conveyer opposite branch passage 1 and containing a letter 86, the letter-mover of said branch passage shown in the position it assumes after dropping down in front of the front edge of the letter and just before said mover starts on its return or rearward movement, certain parts being broken away and some parts not being shown. Fig. 16 is a detail perspective View, enlarged', of one of the branch-passage letter-movers.

This apparatus, among other features, is designed to receive a pile of faced-up pieces of mail-matter and take the same successively from the top of the pile and distribute and deposit them separately at various predetermined points, such as letter-boxes.

According to the system now followed in post-oiiices in distributing mail-matter a clerk stands before a' case made up of a large number ot' boxes and by hand places the individual pieces of mail-matter in the various boxes through the inner open ends thereof. Each after.

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series of boxes is shown, each of which represents a certain postal route to follow the system of hand-distribution now in vogue. A support for a pile of pieces of mail-matter is provided. A feeder removes the topmost letter laterally from the pile and thrusts the same past a suitable guiding means into a pair of rotating cooperating feed-rolls. The letter is then pushed by a suitable device into a vertically-movable lift or main-way letterconveyer, which after receiving the letter moves upwardly and stops opposite a certain branch or box letter-passage, whereupon the letter-conveyer of said passage moves forward and takes the letter from said main conveyer and moves the letter along the boxes opening into or communicating with said branch passage, and a certain box gate or stripper intercepts the letter and deflects it into its box. The various letter-conveyers thereupon return to their normal positions. A series of manually-oliiei'ated devices are provided corresponding to and indicating the boxes, respectively, a separate device (such as a key) being provided for each box. When a key is depressed, it sets the controlling devices, which stop the main conveyer at the particular branch passage communicating with the box indicated by the key depressed and also sets the gate belonging to said box. The depression of the key also throws the feeder into operative communication with its actuating means, and thereby causes the initial feed or movement of the letter from the common source or pile of letters. The depression of the key also actuates mechanism which places the driving power in operative communication or connection with the main letter-way conveyer and with the branch-passage conveyers and also with the pusher which forces the letter into the main-way conveyer, the arrangement in the specific example shown being such that the branch-passage conveyers start in their movements toward the main letter-way before the main-way conveyer starts on its feeding' stroke, so that the letter-controlling means are set, and the letter is delivered to said main conveyer before said conveyer starts on its feeding stroke. I have thus generally outlined the operation of the specific example shown to add to the clearness of the following explanation; but I do not thereby intend to limit the scope or effect of my invention to compliance with the foregomg.

In the specific example illustrated I show a case made up of eighteen letter-boxes, although I do not wish to limit my invention to any particular number of boxes, as there. is practically no limit to the number of boxes into which apparatus within the scope of my invention can distribute mail-matter. The boxes are arranged in the same vertical plane and in horizontal rows, the boxes being arranged one under the other, and consequently in vertical rows. In the arrangement shown for the sake of convenience there are three horizontal rows of boxes, each row being made up of six boxes arranged closely together and usually separated only 'by the vertical partitions. The boxes are usually closed at the rear and open at the front ends, so that the mail-matter distributed thereinto can be easily removed. The boxes have the top receiving or ingress openings, through which the letters are delivered thereinto. A branch or box letter space, way, or passage is provided longitudinally of each horizontal row of boxes and along or above the open tops or Lipper ends thereof. In the drawings I indicate the letter-passage, communicating with and above the lower row of boxes by the reference-numeral l and the corresponding passages for the remaining rows of boxes 2 3, respectively.

way or passage t intercepts and passes all of said horizontal branch passages, which at their front ends open into and terminate at said main or vertical passage 4. The case of boxes is rigidly secured in and held elevated by a rigid supporting-frame comprising front and rear corner-posts or uprights 5, rigidly connected by longitudinal side bars 6 and cross-rails. The boxes of each horizontal row are correspondingly indicated by the reference-letters A B C D E F. The boxes at their open tops have the vertically-swinging gates, switches, or deflectors, each consisting of a horizontal rock-shaft 9, rigid with a series of lateral fingers 10, extending' therefrom transversely across the top opening of the box. Each rockshaft 9 is arranged transversely of the case of boxes and longitudinally above the top edge of the vertical partition at the far side of its box,and its several separated parallel fingers l0 extend forwardly therefrom over the box and usually over the opposite side partition thereof and rest on a suitable support, so that all the fingers of a horizontal row normally rest about in one horizontal plane. rIhe gates are arranged to breakjoints or overlap each other to form a floor or surface without obstructions alongwhich theletterscanmove. vForinstance, the lingers of the intermediate gates rest on the rock-shafts of the gates to the front-thereof.

To enable the corresponding gate-lingers of each horizontal row of boxes are preferably arranged 1n the same horizontal plane and also the shafts 9 of the respective boxes 1n each At the frontv end of the case of boxes a vertical main letter" IOO IIO

IZO

vertical row areusually arranged in the same vertical planes, and said shafts at their ends are suitably mounted in proper supports, such as side bars extending along the case of boxes. The rock-shafts 9 of said box-gates all have crank-arms 11, rigid with their ends, and said cranks are shown arranged at'the outer face of the back ofthe case of boxes. The crankarms 11 of the corresponding boxes of each row are usually for the sake of convenience coupled together to move simultaneously by the vertical lift-bars 12. In other words, the gates of each vertical row of boxes are coupled together to operate as one by said bars or links 12, which are pivotally connected to the ends of the crank-arms 11. I show the lower end gate-shafts of each vertical row of connected shafts provided with rigid downwardly-projectingcrank-arms 13, from which the various pull connections 14 extend, respectively, to actuating controlling devices, as hereinafter set forth. The arrangement is such that when a pull connection is actuated it will pull forward the particular crank-arm 13 to which it s attached, and hence lift all of the crankarms 11 of the vertical series in which said particular crank is included through the medium of the lift-bar 12, and consequently elevate all of the gates controlled by said cranks. The ends of the pull connections can be formed with the longitudinal slots 14', in which the pivots of the crank-arms 13 can move independently of the connections. Retractive springs 14" are secured to the connections 14 and to the crank-arms 13 and normally hold the pivots of said crank-arms at the inner ends of said slots. Said springs possess suiiicient tension or strength to hold said pivots at their normal positions at the inner ends of said slots during the operation of raising the gates. so that, in eect, each pull connection is established through a spring 14". The arrangement is such that when a series of gates is held elevated they can be depressed, as hereinafter set forth, independently of the pull connection 14, in which case the crank 13 will move rearwardly with its pivot moving in and the length of the slot 14 and against the tension of the spring14" and the parts will immediately return to the elevated position under the impulse of the spring 14H when the depressing pressure is released. The box-gates are normally closed and rest horizontal across the tops of their respective boxes excepting the last boxes F of the horizontal rows are normally open for the entrance of mailmatter. l show these normally open boxes provided with swinging gates the same asthe other boxes; but my invention is not so limited. The crank-arms 11 of the said last box F are connected by a bar 12 the same as the cranks of other box-gates, and the shaft of the lower box-gate also has a crank-arm 13; but said crankearm has no pull connection, but has a retractive spring 13 secured thereto, which normally draws said crank against a stop 13l and yieldingly and normally holds the said last gates open, and yet the arrangement is such'that said last gates can all be simultaneously depressed against the tension of spring 13' bythe application of the proper force.

, 15 is a horizontally-disposed table or support to receive the common pile of faced-up letters. This table can be inclined, if desired, from its inner longitudinal edge downwardly and outwardly. The table is shown with the upwardly-projecting end stop 15', against which the ends of the letters are alined. The table is arranged transversely across the front end of the main frame just in front of the two front end posts and at a suitable elevated point above the bank or series of keys, hereinafter described. This table is vertically movable and is provided with mechanism for yieldingly pressing the same upwardly. In the example shown the table 15 is provided with a rigid approximately central depending arm 16 at its lower end loosely coupled to the front end of ahorizontal vertically-swinging lever 17 beneath the case of boxes and fulcrumed at its rear end. Thislever is provided with and is coupled to a weight 18, which constantly draws the lever upwardly, and consequently yieldingly presses the table in the same direction. 19 represents two vertical legs rigid with and depending' from the ends of said table. and at their lower portions passing loosely through the guides 19. If desirable, the front edges 3f said legs can be formed with downwardly-facing ratchetteeth. as shown.

20 represents upwardly-projecting pawls' pivoted at their lower ends and having the toothed upper ends yieldingly held into engagement with the ratchets of the legs, respectively, by the retractive springs 21. It will thus be noted that the table is free to move upwardly under the impulse of the weight, but is held by said pawl-and-ratchet mechanisms against downward movement until the pawls are swung outwardly from the ratchets. As the table with its pile of letters is usually only slightly overbalanced and forced up by the weight mechanism before described, the initial feeder, which takes the topmost letters successively from the pile, might in making its feeding stroke depress the table and pile of letters, and hence prevent the feeder from properly taking hold of and feeding the letter. The possibility of this occurring is avoided by providing said pawl-andratchet mechanism, which holds the table positively against downward movement and yet permits the free upward movement of the table as the pile of letters thereon is reduced.

22 is a guide or stop plate or wall arranged transversely across the front end of the frame and preferably secured to the front end posts iro ISO

I te eoasee of the frame at or near its lower edge, 'from which said plate is curved or deflected somewhat upwardly and outwardly. This plate extends vertically a distance equal to the full travel of the table and is arranged close behind the same to form a backing or alining stop wall or face for the inner longitudinal edges of the letters piled on the table. The table can have inner end corner guides or clips 23 partially embracing and sliding on the vertical edges of said plate 22. The letters are piled one on the other fiat on said table with their longitudinal edges parallel with the longitudinal edges of the table and with their addressed faces upwardly, so that the operator in front of the machine can look down thereon and read the address of the topmost letter at a glance. Suitable mechanism is provided to hold the letters down in the proper pile on the table and against said rear guide-wall 22 without obstructing the addressed face of the topmost letter. As a means for this purpose I show a verticallyswinging frame 24 in the form of a bail pivoted at its lower ends at 24 to permit the bail to swing toward and from the table. 24 represents holding-lingers rigid with and extending vertically from the top cross-bar of this bail. These lingers are usually separated and parallel with each other and extend upwardly in front of the letter-supporting table and have their top ends deliected inwardly to rest on the topmost letter of the pile on the table and exert suflicient downward pressure on the pile` of letters to hold them in proper position and yet permit free and easy inward withdrawal of the topmost letter under the action of the initial feeder. The swinging frame 24, with its lingers 24", is yieldingly held rearwardly toward the front edge of the table and the pile of letters thereon, clearly as shown in Fig. l, by the retractive spring 24, secured to the swinging frame and to the main frame. The longitudinal upper end of the wall 22 is curved inwardly and upwardly (see 22') to form a guide and base for each letter as it is moved laterally from the pile bythe initial feeder. One or more yielding separator-lingers 25 are carried by said wall 22 and project a slight distance above the top edge thereof to hold back the letters undei theone being fed. (SeeFigs-l2and13.) The upper end of each separator-linger can be roughened or toothed, as shown, to rub along the under face of the letter being moved over the edge of the wall 22 into the feed-rolls hereinafter described.

26 is a continuously-rotated feed-roll, which can be formed in one or more sections all rigidly secured on the cross-shaft 26', mounted suitably in or on the front end posts of the main frame, and suitably rotated, as by an endless cord or belt 26", from a pulley or wheel on the main drive-shaft of the machine and passing around suitably-arranged guiding idler-pulleys. This horizon tal feed-wheel is arranged just behind the upper edge of the Wall 22, preferably so that its rearwardlymoving upper face is immediately in rear of the top edge of said wall 22, over which the letters will pass directly onto said roll. The positively-driven roll 26 cooperates with and drives and is arranged beneath and in contact with an upper roll 27, which can be made in one or more sections, all of which revolve loosely on a shaft 27', rigidly secured to lateral arms 27, fixed to a rock shaft or rod 28, arranged transversely of the front end of the main frame and mounted in suitable journalboxes secured to the front posts thereof. Said rock-shaft 28- has a crank-arm 28 rigid therewith. A retractive spring 28H is secured to said arm 28' and at its opposite end is secured to a front post of the frame. This spring constantly acts, through the rock-shaft 28 and arms 27", to yieldingly hold the idler friction-driven feed-roll 27 down to the under positively-driven roll to yieldingly grip letters of varying' thicknesses and cause the rolls to rapidly move the letters rearwardly between them. Said rock-shaft 28 also has the presser feet or guides 29 attached thereto by lateral depending arms 29, rigid therewith and at their lower ends rigid with flat plates or heads 29, which form the presser or guide feet and are located over theinner edge of the topmost letter of the pile on the table and over and opposing` the top edge of the wall 22, so that, in effect, a guiding-throat for the letters is formed by said wall 22 and the said presser-feet, and said feet hold down the inner portions of the letters and direct them into the bite between the feed-rolls.

A suitable initial feeding device is provided to take the topmost letters of the pile on the table successively therefrom and force the same under said feet and over wall 22 and the thin spring separator-finger into the bite between the two feed-rolls. Various devices can be employed for this purpose. As a convenient construction `I show a rock-shaft 30, arranged transversely and horizontally of the front end of the frame and suitably mounted to or on the front posts a distance above the table and pile of letters. One end of this rock-shaft is extended and has the horizontally-disposed crank-arm 30 rigid therewith and to which the operating connections, as hereinafter described, are coupled for rocking said shaft to effect the feeding operation. One or more arms 30'/ are rigid with and depend from said rock-shaft BO, and at its lower end each arm is provided with a feeding finger or toe O3 so constructed as to run over the topmost letter without moving the same when said feeder-arms swing outwardly, but so as to force the topmostletter from the pile and into the feed-rolls when the rock-shaft is swungin theopposite direction and the feederarms are swung inwardly. The feeder usu- IOO ally tends to lift the inner portion of the topmost letter against said feet, and the feeder- Vlingers move up to the bite between the rolls. Said feeder-fingers are arranged in different vertical planes from the feet, so that they can swing into the rolls past said feet.

If found desirable, suitable mechanism can be and often is provided to forcibly push each letter by its rear edge into, to insure its proper reception by, the main letter-conveyer hereinafter described and to free the letter from said rolls for its upward movement. As a means which can be employed for performing this function I show a horizontal rock-shaft 31, extending between and mounted in or to the two front posts and arranged below the plane of the lower feed-rolls. One end of this rock-shaft 31 is extended and provided with a horizontally-disposed crank-arm 31, rigid therewith. v

32 is a horizontally-disposed cam or trip lever fulcrumed at its front endr to the upper portion of one of the front posts, so that said cam extends rearwardly along the rear side of the machine. 32 is a link pivotally joining said cam-lever and the crank-arm 31', and a retract-ive spring 32 is provided to yieldingly hold said cam-lever at its limit of upward movement. The curved letter-pusher fingers 31 are rigidly secured to said rockshaft 31 and extend upwardly therefrom beyond the ends of the lower feed-roll and are of suflicient length to move across the letterpath as the shaft is rocked to swing the lingers rearwardly. rI he spring 32 yieldingly holds the rock-shaft with said pusher-fingers extending upwardly and forwardly with their upper ends below the path of 'the letters passing through the rolls. Wrhen the cam-lever 32 is depressed, the shaft 31 is rocked and said lingers move upwardly and rearwardly and engage the. rear edge of the letter, (the engaging' ends of the fingers being properly curved for this purpose,) and hence push the letter forcibly to the rear and .insure the complete entrance of the letter into the main-way conveyer. When the cam-lever is released, the spring 32" returns the same and the pusher-fingers to their normal inactive positions.

The initial letter-feeding mechanism, in-

cluding the feed-rolls, is usually, although notj necessarily, located approximately at the lower end portion of the main letter way or passage 4, which passes the several branch passages ranging over and opening into the lboxes of the several tiers. Any suitable mechanism is provided `to receive the letters separately from said feed-rolls and convey each letter to the branch passage opening into the particular box in which the letter belongs. In the example illustrated 1 show a vertically-reciprocating letter conveyer, carrier,

or lift movable up and down in said main letter-way from its normal position in. rear of the feed-rolls and comprising a verticallysliding' support provided with a letter-clamp. The support shown consists of two verticallydisposed slide-blocks 33 33, rigidly connected by the two horizontal (usually parallel) cross-bars 34 35, which have the members of the letter-clamp applied to intermediate portions in the length thereof and are usually arranged one a distance above the other. Suitable slide ways or guides 36 36 are provided, in which said slide-blocks are confined to freely slide vertically. Said ways are usually formed by the vertical grooves extending longitudinally of the inner faces of the two front posts of the main frame. Said two ways .preferably occupy the same vertical plane, which is in rear of the two feedrolls. The letter-clamp shown consists of the two parallel rigid jaws 37 37 and the two movable spring-jaws 38 38. The lower jaws at intermediate points in their lengths are fixed on the rigid lower bar 34 and extend horizontally and transversely from a point in advance of said bar rearwardly above the same and terminate a distance in rear of said bar and usually near the rear vertical side of the main letter-passage 4. rlhe upper movable jaws 38 38 are arranged above and correspond to the lower fixed jaws, respectively, and the cooperating or opposing jaws of each pair are usually parallel with each other and arranged in the same vertical plane. The two upper jaws are pivotally coupled to and carried by the upper bar or rod 35 through the medium of any suitable mechanism. For instance, 1 show a loose sleeve 39 on the central portion of the rod 35 and held against longitudinal movement thereon. rlhis sleeve has the rearwardly and downwardly inclined larms 39 39, rigid therewith, and the outer ends of these arms are pivotally joined to the jaws 38, respectively, at points near the centers of the lengths of said jaws by horizontal pivots. 40 is a coiled spring secured on the rod 35 and having' its free end confined to one of the arms 39 and constantly pressing said arms downwardly, and hence yieldingly holding the upper movable jaws 38 down to the lower rigid jaws 37.' rlhe jaws of each pair preferably have theirlongitudinal inner letterengaging faces longitudinally curved or concaved, so that the opposite ends only of the jaws engage, as more clearly shown in Fig. 7, and the front ends of the jaws are curved from their outer longitudinal edges inwardly and rearwardly to guide the letter entering from the feed-rolls into the jaws. This letter-clamp is normally arranged immediately in rear of the feed-rolls, with the bite between the front engaging faces of the jaws approximately in the same horizontal plane with the bite between the feed-rolls. When the clamp is in its normal position, the front ends of the jaws 'usually extend forwardly beside or adjacent to the ends of the feed-rolls-that is, the clampjaws overlap the feed-rolls. A letter is moved IOO IOS

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rearwardly between the feed-rolls and passes directly into said clamp over the rigid jaws and presses up the upper spring-held jaws, which yield to accommodate letters of varying thickness and shape. The open or reduced intermediate portions of the jaws are formed to receive letters of varying thickness and yet permit the ends of the jaws, particularly the rear ends thereof, to engage the thin edges of the letters and hold them straight and against doubling up. When the letter has passed from the bite between the feed-rolls and rests in and is supported by the clamp of the main letter-conveyer, the pushers 31 move rearwardly and engage the rear edge of the letter and force the same rearwardly completely into the letter-clamp and past the depending rearwardly-facing stop-shoulders 38, rigid with the front ends 0f the yielding jaws, and passing down to one side of the lowerjaws, and which prevent forward movement of the letter after ithas been forced completely into the letter-clamp. It should be noted that the letter lies fiat or horizontally in the letter-clamp and that the pushers straighten the same therein, so that the length of the letter is approximately at right angles to the length of each jaw, and if the letter is very wide and projects rearwardly beyond the rear ends of said jaws the rear edge of the letter will engage and be stopped and alined by the rear vertical wall 41 of the main letter passage or way. It should be also noted that the letter-clamp is made of very light and thin material, and the entire letterlift is light in weight and construction, as it is only called on to carry one letter at a time, and its formation and construction are somewhat exaggerated in the drawings for the purpose of clear explanation. The letter merely rests horizontally on the rigid jaws, and the upper movable jaws exert only such light downward pressure thereon as is necessary to hold the letter from accidental displacement` and yet will permit easy and ready withdrawal of the letter rearwardly from said jaws. rlhe upper spring-jaws can rock on their pivoted joints and move vertically to accommodate letters of any practical size or shape. After the conveyer or clamp has received its letter certain mechanism moves the same vertically in the main letter way or passage, and suitable devices stop the elevator and hold the same opposite any one of the branch passages. As an example of what might be employed for this purpose I show movable stops 42 opposite each branch passage and movable into and out of the path of the main-way conveyer. Said stops 42 can be formed by crank or lateral arms depending from and rigid with rockshafts 43, having suitable operating means. Each rock-shaft 43 is arranged horizontally between and mounted to the front posts of lthe main frame in front and out of the main letter-Way. Each shaft usually has two of the stops 42 arranged near its ends, so that when said shaft is rocked in one direction said stops will swing rearwardly into the path of the main conveyer, and as the conveyer moves up said stops will engage the same, preferably engaging the end portions of the rod 35 thereof, and hence stop and hold the conveyer against continued upward movement. Said stops normally lie out of the path of the conveyer, except that the last stops 42 at the upper end of the main letter-'way are held normally projecting into the path of the conveyer, which should be always stopped opposite the to pmost branch passage if it has passed all the other branch passages, in which instance the letter carried by said conveyer belongs in a box of the topmost row. The topmost stops are shown pivoted and spring-held, so that the lift or`conveyer can be removed and reinserted, if desired, at the top of the frame. The frame opposite each branch passage is provided with a set of the stops 42, properly arranged to stop the lift opposite said passage with the jaws in the horizontal plane of the passage, so that the letter can be drawn from the jaws directly into the passage without interference or obstructions. Each rock-shaft carrying the stops 42 (excepting the tcpmost rock-shaft) has a crank 43 rigid therewith and arranged at the side of the frame, and these cranks are separately connected with controlling or setting mechanisms, as hereinafter pointed out.

Each branch passage is provided with suitable moving or conveying mechanism to remove the letter from the main-way conveyer and move the same along the branch way until the letter is deected into one of the boxes thereof by a box-gate. In the specific example illustrated each branch passage has a horizontal floor on which the letters slide on their fiat faces with their longI edges arranged transversely of the floor. This floor is composed of the overlapping gate-fingers lO, hereinbefore described. The specific form of lettermover shown is, in effect, a rake. Each branch- IOO IIO

passage conveyer, as shown in the specific example, consists of a cross-head 45, arranged transversely of the branch passage and above the box-gates forming the floor thereof. This head is arranged to move back and forth throughout the length of said passage over the box-gates. Suitable mechanism is provided to move and guide said head in its reciprocation. For instance, 1 show two parallel rails 46 46 rigidly secured along the ends, respectively, ol" the letter-boxes opening' into the branch passage. These rails form the side walls of the branch letter way or Hoor. The rail 46 is shown with a longitudinal groove or guideway in its inner longitudinal face or edge, in which one end of the head 45 is confined to slide. rlhe opposite end of said head projects over the rail 46 and through a horizontal slot or opening in the back of the case of boxes equal to the length of the path of movement of said head, and the head-operating device is applied to said extended end of the head. The back rail 46', over which the head extends, is formed with a longitudinal slideway or groove in which a slide-block is confined to freely reciprocate, and the crosshead is secured to said slide-block, so that the block slides with the head and guides the same in its movement and holds the samea-gainst lateral displacement. rlhe cross or rake head 45 is provided with one or more forwardlyprojecting shouldered spring-lingers to pull a letter from the main letter-conveyer and draw the same along the fioor of the branch passage. I show the head provided with two parallel horizontal forwardly-projecting rake or pull fingers 47 47, arranged parallel with the lines of gate-fingers 10 and in the spaces, respectively, between said lines of gate-fingers (see Fig. 3) and moving' practically down between the gate-fingers. Each linger consists of a long strip of thin pliable spring metal at the rear end secured to a block 47', secured rigidly to the cross-head and extending forwardly a short distance under thc spring-finger and preferably formed to guide the finger in its vertical movement and prevent lateral play thereof and also to extend up beside the finger and prevent a letter catching between the finger and the front end of the block on which the finger is secured. The front end of each spring-Enger is formed with a depending rearwardly-facing catch-shoulder 47", having an upwardly and forwardly curved front edge 473. The fingers of each rake are. of the same length, and the arrangement of the operative mechanisms4 is such that all the rakes of the various branch passages are normally located at the extreme rear ends ofthe various branch passages, and the mainway conveyer stops at the front end of one of the branch passages in theoperation of the machine before the branch-passage rakes arrive at the front ends of their passages. The said rakes advance to the front ends of their passages. and at theirlimits of forward movement the rake-fingers thereof extend completely across the main letter-passage and beyond the vertical plane in which the front shouldered ends of the main-way conveyer move in the vertical reciprocation of said conveyer. The rake-fingers of the particular branch passage at which the main-way conveyer has stopped engage the front edge of.

clamp of the main-way conveyer onto the fioor of the branch passage-way and slide the letter along the floor of said passage formed by the gate-fingers. The letter drops flat face down intothe box which has its gate elevated. The front stops of the letter-clamp of the main-way conveyer, hereinbefore described` prevent the letter pushing forward from said clamp when the forwardly-moving rake-fingers engage the rear edge. of the letter and slide up over the same. ln the specific example shown it is obvious that mechanism must be provided to momentarily depress the elevated box-gates, so that the cross-heads of the various rakes can move rearwardly past the same and so that said gates will at once spring up again and enable one of the gates to catch and deliect the letter moved by one of the. rakes into the opened box. All of the rakes move back and forth simultaneously, although but one rake catches and moves a letter at each stroke. Also at each operation a box-gate is elevated in each branch passage, although but one of them catches a letter. To cause the momentary depression of the elevated gates, 1 show the upper ends of the push-bars 12, connecting the gate-cranks, so constructed as to project into the path of movement of a projection 123,I

extending laterally from and rigid with the rear end of the slide-block of said head` when any one of said bars 12 is elevated. Said upper ends of the bars 12 are rounded, and as the rakes move back said rigid pin or projection 123 engages the upper end of the bar 12, moved up to lift the box-gates controlled thereby, andi forces said bar 12 down by reason of its cam-shaped upper end, and said bar 12 andits gates are held down until the rake cross-heads move over and pass the free front ends of the gates. The pin 123 then slips past and releases the bar 12. which immediately springs up again with its box-gates. The pin 123 is properly spaced with respect to the rake cross-heads and gates to press the gates at the proper movement and permit the passage of the rake cross-heads and allow said gates to spring up again before the front edge of the letter moved by one of said rakes reaches the front ends of the lingers of a momenrarily-depressed gate. The rake crossheads are thus allowed to pass the elevated gates and yet the gates return quickly enough to enable one of the gates to catch the letter in its passage and deliect the same into the box. This vertical play of the gates is permitted by the slotted operating connections herein before described, and the gates are quickly elevated by the springs at said slotted connections.

48 is the main drive-shaft of the machine, mounted at any convenient location. For example, said shaft is shown mounted transversely beneath the box-case on suitable rigid supports extending up from thebottom rigid lOO IIO

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side bars of the main frame. The driving power or motor can be operatively coupled to said shaft to continuously rotate the same in one direction. I show a balance wheel or pulley 48 rigid on the central portion of the shaft.

49 is a ratchet-wheel normally revolving continuously with the shaft. Although said wheel is mounted loosely on the shaft, usually near one end thereof, yet it is coupled thereto to rotate therewith under normal conditions by the lateral arm 49', rig'id with the shaft and connected to the wheel b y the stiff coiled spring 492. This arm through its spring connection with the wheel causes the rotation thereof, yet permits the wheel to yield and avoid a heavy blow or shock when sudden pressure or work is thrown on the wheel.

50 is an eccentric mounted loosely on the shaft and normally inactive and arranged beside and adjacent to the ratchet-wheel. The eccentric is provided with a rigid radial arm 505, extending therefrom beside the ratchetwheel and having the pivoted dog 50 fulcrumed thereto. This dog has its toothed end arranged to engage a tooth of the ratchetwheel, and thus lock the wheel and eccentric to rotate together with the drive-shaft. The heel of the dog is extended radially to form a stop shoulder or lug 50, and a retractive spring 50:s is attached to the dog and constantly tends to draw the toothed end of the dog into engagement with the ratchet-wheel. The eccentric also has a rigid striker or camarm 504 rigid therewith and projecting radi-s aliy therefrom, usually at a portion thereof diametrically opposite the dog-support. The striker or cam-arm and the dog-support are usually secured to opposite side faces of the eccentric. The eccentric is thrown into and out of operative relation or connection with the ratchet-wheel by means of a horizontallydisposed trip-lever or rocker 61, arranged longitudinally of the bottom of the apparatus and extending approximately from the front of the framework rearwardly to a point beneath the rotating drive-shaft. This lever moves vertically on an intermediate horizontal fulcrum, such as transverse shaft GQ, and the vertically-movablel rear end of the lever is formed and arranged to extend along' the under face of the dog 50' and abut squarely against the heel 50H of said dog and hold the same out of engagement with the ratchetwheel and against the tension of the dogspring and also hold the eccentric against rotation. Suitable mechanism at the front end of the apparatus is provided to raise the front end of said lever 6l on the depression of any key, (as hereinafter described.) and hence depress the rear end of said lever out of engagement with the heel of the dog, whereupon the dog springs into locking engagement with tlle ratchet-wheel and carries the eccentric around one complete revolution,

and as the revolution is completed the for'- wardly-extending dog runs along the end of said lever, which strikes the heel of the dog and automatically lifts the same from the ratchet-wheel and stops the rotation of the eccentric. The lever 61 is only momentarily depressed and at once returns to its normal position in readiness to engage the dog at each releasing operation.

63 is a horizontally-disposed arm fulcru med to the frame at its rear end and havingl a roller 63 mounted on its front end, and said arm is yieldingly drawn upwardly by a spring 63, with its roller engaging the outer cam edge of the bracket or support 505 rigid with the eccentric and carrying the said dog. The cam edge of the said bracket 505 is so formed that the upward pressure of the arm 63 thereagainst presses the bracket forwardly and holds the heel of the dog tightly against the end of the lever 6l and prevents rattling and looseness of the parts and accidental displacement and holds the parts together under a spring tension. Said spring-held arm also acts as a spring-brake on the eccentric to stop the same without a sudden jar as the roller of the arm rides over the end of the bracket 50" as the dog is withdrawn from the ratchetwheel.

The cam projection or arm 50 actuates the initial feeder-operating mechanism through the medium of a horizontally-disposed verticallys\\'inging rocker or lever 64. having its forward end pivotaliy joined by a vertical rod 65 to the laterally-extending crank-arm 80 of the rock-shaft, to which the depending' feeder-arms are secured. The said lever 64 is arranged longitudinally of and beneath the box-case and at a point intermediate its ends is fulcrumed on the shaft 62, so as to rock independently of the lever Gl, which also rocks on the same axial line. The rear end of the said feeder-operating lever 64 extends up over the eccentric and into the path of rotation ofthe cam 50'l and is shown provided with an end antifriction-roller to engage and ride over said cam during the rotation of the eccentric. The outer edge of said cam is formed with a double incline having the intermediate elevated portion. Vhen the initial feeder is in its normal rearward position and the eccentric is at rest, said end roller of the feederoperating lever is held against the lower portion of the rear inclined face of said cam. Then the trip-lever 6l releases the dog and causes the eccentric to rotate, said cam moves rearwardly and causes the roller of the feederoperating lever to ride up said cam face, which elevates the rear end of said lever and draws down the crank-arm 30 and swings out the feeder-arms. When said roller passes over the raised portion of the cam and drops down the opposite inclined face thereof` said crank-arm 30 is forced up by the opposite movement of the feeder-operating lever, and

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the feederarms are swung rearwardly to carry the letter into the feed rolls. This feeding operation takes place at the very beginning of each rotation of the eccentric, and when the eccentric completes its single rotation the cam assumes the same position as before described and as shown in Figs. 1 and 10 in readiness to perform the initial feeding operation on the next release of the trip-lever 6l. A retractive spring 66 is provided connecting the two rockers or levers 61 and 64 in rear of their fulcrums, and thereby yieldingly holds the lever 64C to its operating-cam and the lever 61 against the dog and returns said levers to their positions when they have been operated.

It will be noted that the cam or striker 504 when at rest and in its normal position stops the initial feeder at its limit of inward movement, the feeder being yieldingly held in this position by feed-stroke actuating-spring 66. When the striker 50i starts on its operative movement, the lever 64 is rocked thereby against the tension of spring 66 to move the initial feeder outwardly on its return stroke by the driving power of thermachine. When the feeder reaches its limit of outward movement, the striker slips past or releases the lever 64:, and the spring 66 thereupon rocks the lever and actuates the feeder on its inward or letter-feeding stroke. The feeder is hence yieldingly driven on itsfeeding stroke and can yield or even stop at any point in its feeding stroke to avoid mutilating Inail-matter should thel same wedge or refuse to enter the feedro s.

67 is a pitman extending forwardly from the eccentric-strap of the eccentric 50 and at its frontend pivotally coupled to the upwardlyextending radial arm 68, rigid with the rockshaft 69. is an oscillating sweep or lever arm rigid with said rock-shaft 69 and extending from the end thereof upwardly at the rear of the main frame and box-case, preferably to a point above the box-case. The upper end of this sweep-arm is deflected laterally to a point approximately over the box-case, and its end is provided with a guide 70', fitting loosely the under edge of a curved guide rail or track 7l, arranged longitudinally of and above the box-case and extending throughout the length thereof and suitably secured thereto and curved to conform to the arc in which said sweep-arm swings from the rock-shaft 69 as a center'. Said sweep constitutes the operating or driving member for the branch-passage letter-conveyers through the medium of series of endless flexible connections. As a matter of convenience l show a separate endless exible connection 72 for each branch-passage letter-conveyer. ln the example shown three reciprocating branch-passageI conveyers arev that when the sweep swings rearwardly it will pull all the connections in one direction and when it moves forwardly it will pull all of said connections in the opposite direction. One or more coiled springs 7 2 are interposed in said iiexible connections in any suitable manner to take up the slack and yet permit the connections to stretch as the sweep reaches the higher portions of the arc in which its upper end moves. Allsaid connections extend from the upper end of sweep-arm 70 forwardly to an idler-pulley 72", mounted at one side Qf the upper front corner of the main frame and having its periphery formed to comfortably receive all said connections. The connections from thence extend downwardly at one side of the main letter-way,and at each branch passage one of the connections is deflected horizontally under an idler 7 23 and along the rear side of the box-case beside a longitudinal opening in the case-back, through which the end of the rake-head of that passage projects. Each said horizontal portion of the various connections is secured' to the projecting end of the rakehead of the passage to which it belongs. At the rear end of the box-case all of said connections pass under idlers 72l and extend vertically, and at the rear upper corner of the frame all three connections pass over an idler 725 and extend forwardly and horizontally and are secured to the upper end of the sweeparm. It will thus be noted said connections are of various lengths to extend longitudinally of the various branch passages, respectively, and-that all of the connections are moved simnltaneously and equal distances by the sweep-arm. The sweep-arm is normally located above the front end of the box-case, about as shown in Fig. l, and the various branch-passage letter-conveyers are so coupled in the endless connections that when said sweep-arm is in its normal position all of said conveyers are located'at the extremerear ends of their respective passages, as shown in Fig. 3. Hence when the operating-eccentric on the drive-shaft starts in on a revolution the pitnnan 67 is forced rearwardly and the sweeparm is swung rearwardly and the various branch-passage conveyers move forwardly, and if any of the box-gates are open they are momentarily depressed to permit the passage of the rake-heads and then fly back to their o pen positions under the inliuence of the pullsprings, herein before described. rlhe sweeparm moves rearwardly until the various lingers of the rake project forwardly across and beyond the main letter-way, and the eccentric then begins on the second half of its stroke and draws the pitman 67 forwardly and starts the sweep-arm forwardly on its return stroke, and vconsequently draws all the branch-passage conveyers'or rakes rearwardly, and when `the eccentric.. completes its revolution and stops the sweep-arm will be at its limit of forward movement and said conveyers at their IOO limits of rearward movement. The main-way conveyer is also actuated and directly controlled by another sweep-arm and endless flexible connection, which sweep-arm, however, is controlled and actuated in one direction by the before-mentioned sweep-arm, which actuates the branch-passage conveyers. To this end, 73 is a vertically-oscillating sweep arm or lever, at its lower end loosely mounted on the rock-shaft 69 beside the sweep-arm 70, which is rigid with said shaft. Said arm 73 has its upper end deflected laterally over the track or rail 71 and formed with an end guide 73, straddling and slidable on the top edge of said rail 71, so that the under ends of said two sweep-arms are located in different vertical planes, and the upper end of one arm is in advance of the upper end of the other arm, so as to avoid interference of any character. The upper end of sweep-arm 73 is secured in endless flexible connection 74, arranged longitudinally and horizontally at the top and bottoni of the box-case and vertically at the ends thereof and passing under and over the four corner idler-pulleys 74C'. The connection passes vertically of the main letter-way and is secured to one of the slideblocks of the main letter-conveyer. rl `he main letter-conveyer and the sweep-arm 73 are so secured or connected in said endless connection that when said sweep-arm is at its normal position at the front end of the guide-rail 71 the main-way conveyer will be in its normal position behind and in readiness to receive a letter from the feed-rolls. 74 is a coiled spring included in the endless connection 74 for the same reason that spring' 72' is included in the endless connections reciprocating the branch-passage letter-conveyers. 73H is a coiled retractive spring having one end secured to the main frame and its forward end secured to said main-conveyer sweep and exerting its tension to mo ve said sweep-arm rearwardly and effect the feeding stroke of 'the sweep-arm. Said arm is actuated in one direction by said spring and in the opposite direction by the branch passage conveyer sweep-arm through the medium of a heavy plate-spring 75, carried by sweep-arm 70, and a stop 75 rigid with sweep-arm 73.

75 is the plate-spring, arranged longitudinally of the sweep-arm 70 at the front edge thereof, with its upper free end springing forwardly therefrom and its lower end secured thereto. A guiding-loop 75", rigid with arm 70, limits the forward movement of the free end of said spring away from the said arm. The stop-lug or projection 75' is rigid with the sweep-arm 73 and projects laterally therefrom in front of the free end of said spring 75 and is adapted to engage and rest against the free end of said spring. The spring 75 is of greater power than and works against the spring 73, which swings the sweep-arm 73 in one direction. When the two sweep-arms are in their normal positions at rest, as'shown in Fig. l, the stop 75 rests against the free end of spring 75, and said spring is partially compressed against the sweep-arm 70, and the arm 73 is held in its normal position thereby against the action of its spring 73". When the lever 61 releases the dog 50 and the eccentric is thus thrown in gear with its driving power, the sweep-arm 70 starts on its rearward movement to move the branch-passage conveyers forwardly; but the spring 75 is of sufficient power to hold the arm 73 against rearward movement until said spring 75 reaches its limit of forward movement b vengagement with the outer end of loop or guide 75. Said spring 75 then ceases to exert its restraining force on the sweep-arm 7 3', .and said arm is free to move rearwardly under the impulse of its spring' 73 following the arm 70, and thereby lifting the main-way conveyer in the main letter-way until said conveyer engages one of the stops opposite a branch letterpassage which holds the main conveyer against continued upward movement and the sweep 73 against continued rearward swing. The operating-spring 73H holds the sweep 73 and the main conveyer in this position until the sweep 7 0 has completed its rearward stroke and has started on its forward stroke and moved the branch letter conveyers out of the main letter-way, and consequently out of the path of the main conveyer. The main-way conveyer remains in its elevated position until the free end of spring 75, during the return or forward movement of the sweep-arm 70, cngages the rigid projection 75 of the arm 73 and is slightly compressed by the continued forward movement of arm 70, whereupon the power of spring 73 will be overcome and the arm 73 will be swung forwardly with arm 70 to the limits of forward movements of said arms, thereby moving the main-way conveyer downwardly to its normal position. lt will thus be observed that the main-way conveyer does not start on its lifting or feeding stroke at once when the operating mechanisms of the machine have been set in operation, but waits until the initial feeding operation has been effected and it has received the letter from the feed-rolls. Also before the sweep-arm 73 starts on its rearward stroke the projection 32'L of the sweep-arm 70, which has started on its rearward stroke, engages the rear free end of the cam-lever 32 and depresses said free end thereof and operates the pusher-fingers 31", hereinbefore described, to force the letter completely into and insure its proper position in the main-way conveyer. When the projection 32JL passes the cam-lever 32, said lever and the parts controlled thereby return to their normal positions. When the sweep-arm 70 returns forwardly to its normal position, it slips past said cam-lever and again swings the same, but no function is then performed by the parts connected therewith, as

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there is no letter in the feed-rolls, or other arrangements could be easily elfected whereby the return of the sweep 7 0 will not cause a movement of said cam-lever. The movements of the parts are s o timed that the mainway conveyer can reach the topmost branch passage or any other branch passage before the series of branch-passage conveyers reach the main letter-way, and also so that said branch-passage conveyers start on their return stroke and withdraw from the main letter-way before the main-way conveyer starts on its downward or return movement.

The controlling mtl smrz'ng mec/zcmz'sm. The front end of the main frame in the example illustrated is provided with forwardlyprojecting rigid supporting-brackets 76 76, having the series of parallel horizontal crossguide plates 77, secured on their step-like upper edges. Series of vertically movable or reciprocating push or key bars 78 extend loosely through said guide-plates. Said keybars are usually provided with keys 78' on their upper ends, and coiled expansive springs 78 are usually located on side bars between said guide-plates and the keys to return each key-bar and connected parts to its normal position. The keys can be arranged in step-like series, as shown, and closely arranged to form a bank or convenient keyboard, which l generally prefer to locate beneath the plane of the supporting-tablefor the common pile of letters and adjacent thereto` so that the operator can look down and see the address on the topmost letter of the pile and also almost instantly see and detect the key he wishes to strike to send said letter to the box in which it belongs. ln other words, the letter-pile and keyboard are both in the range of vision of the operator, and he does not have to turn his head from the letter to the keyboard. I usually provide as many keys as there are letter-boxes, and each key is provided with suitable indieating devices corresponding to or indicating the boxes, respectively. Thus usually each key is provided with characters indicating a postal route, and there is a box foreach route of the series of routes indicated by the series of keys. A series of forwardly-extending vertically-swinging levers 79 are all separately fulcrumed at their rear ends loosely on a cross-bar 79 between front uprights of the frame. The push-bars 78 at their lower ends are pivotally joined to said levers, respectively, a slight distance in rear of the front ends thereof. 1 usually provide as many levers 79 as there are push-bars corresponding to letter-boxes, and each lever and its push-bar are independent of the other levers and pushbars. The outer end of each vertically-swing- 'ing lever 79 is beveled or inclined outwardly and upwardly from its lower edge. (See 79".) 80 is a horizontal transverse rock shaft mounted in the main frame below said levers 79 and having a lateral or crank arm 80y rigid therewith and extending rearuf'ardly and upwardly therefrom and at its free end having a lateral projection 8Oi beneath and on which the front end of the trip-lever 61 rests.

This rock-shaft 8O carries an upwardly and forwardly projecting bail 80", rigid therewith and having its cross rail or bar arranged beneath and resting against the beveled or inclined front ends of the levers 79. The upper edge 8O3 of this front cross-bar is beveled downwardly and rearwardly, and when the levers and bail are in their normal positions the said inclined ends of the levers rest on said inclined edge of the bail. 1t will thus loe readily understood that when any key and its lever are depressed the said beveled 'surfaces will force the bail outwardly to permit the downward passage of the lever, and when the end of the lever slips past said beveled edge of the bail said bail will swing inwardly above the end of the lever, and thus lock the lever and push-bar depressed. When the depressed key is thus held locked, the remaining levers in their normal positions rest on the bail as before. so that the instant :mother lever is depressed by its key the bail will be swung out, releasing the previously-depressed lever andits connected parts, and then swinging in again will lock the last lever depressed. The bail is yieldingly held in against the said lever ends bythe spring holding the front end of trip-lever 61 down against thel stop 80, limiting the downward swing of its front end and through the medium of the crank-l arm from the rock-shaft carrying said bail. It will thus be observed that the depression of any key throws the initial feeder and the main and branch passage conveyers all into gear or operative communication with the driving power or, as in this case, with the main drive-shaft, so that each part performs a stroke or action suficient to start a letter from the com mon source and deliver the same to its particular box. This action is attained by each outward swingof the bail, which lifts the front end of the trip lever 6l by the crankarm 80 and releases its rear end from the dog 50 and permits the dog to lock the actuatingeccentric with the driving-shaft. As the arm 80 moves up and .drops back at once as the lever 79 moving down slips past the bail, the trip-lever after releasing the dog at once relOO turns to its normal position under the action l means I show the series of parallel vertical slide-plates 81 at their lower ends pivotally joined to the levers 79, respectively, at points in advance of the common fulcrum axial line Each lever 79 is pivotally of said levers.

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joined to its own slide 81, and hence there are as many slides as levers 79 and usually as many slides as there are letter-boxes. The slides are arranged close together in a vertical row in rear of the key or push bars, and suitable frame bars or guides are provided to hold the slides properly in position. In the present instance a top cross-bar 82 is arranged transversely of the upper portions of all said slides and is slotted to separately receive and guide the slides. A vertical series of rock-shafts is arranged immediately in rear of the row of slides. Each slide is arranged to rock one or more rock-shafts on the depression of a key and consequent downward movement of the slide connected therewith. The rock-shafts are connected to control the destination of a letter. Thus in the particulararrangement shown the rock-shafts A', H, C', D', and E are connected to operate the gates of the vertical series of A` B, C, D, and E letter-boxes, respectively. Each rock-shaft has an end crank arm 14'` and the live pull connections 14 are coupled to said crank-arms 14. respectively. The two rock-shafts 42' have the end crank-arms 43H pivotally joined, respectively, with the crank-arms 43l for operating the stops 42 by the pull connections 433. If desired, each pull connection 43:i is connected with its crank-arm 43 by a slot-and-pin connection and a pull-spring the same as the yielding' attachment described between a pull connection 14 and crank-arm 13 for operating a series of box-gates. The rock-shafts of said vertical series, just mentioned,are all preferably arranged in the same vertical plane, and said shafts are preferably arranged transversely of the main frame and separately mounted or journaled in the front uprights or posts thereof. These rock-shafts are arranged suitable distances apart. so as not to interfere with each other in operating, and each shaft has a pair of forwardly-extending radial rigid arms 82, rigidly connected at their front ends by a cross rod 82". The cross-rods 82 are preferably arranged in a vertical series one under the other, and each is arranged transversely of and usually resting against the rear longitudinal edges of all the vertical slides 81. The slides are arranged with inward rigid projections 813 from their rear edges resting on certain cross-rods 82, so that when a slide is depressed it will depress thc cross rod or rods engaged by its projection or projections 813, and thus rock one or more rock-shafts to set a certain main conveyer-stop 42 and to set or elevate a certain vertical series of box-gates. The vertical slides operated by keys corresponding to all the letter-boxesexcept those of the topmost row and those corresponding to the last boxes (boxes F) of each horizontal row have two projections 8O3 to rock two shafts, one of which will swing a stop 42 inwardly to stop the main conveyer at a certain branch passage and the other rock-shaft to force up a certain bar 12 and open the vertical row of box-gates, which includes that of the particular box to which the letter is to be delivered. The vertical slides connected to the keys corresponding to the boxes of the topmost row each have but one projection'l3 to operate one of the upper five shafts controlling the box-gates, as no rock-shaft is necessary to operate the main conveyer-stop opposite the last or top branch passage` said stop being permanently or at least normally located in the path of the conveyer. rlhe slide operated by the key corresponding to the box F of the last or top row of boxes does not need even one projection 813, as it is not necessary to operate a rockshaft therefor nor to set a gate or stop to cause the delivery of a letter into said box. The key corresponding to said box on being depressed merely sets the various operating mechanisms at work and the main-way conveyer moves until stopped opposite the last branch passage and the conveyer of said passage moves back to its limit of movementand the iixed or normally open gate of said last box automatically throws the letter into the said last box. The slides operated by the keys corresj'ionding tothe remaining boxes F each need but one projection 813 to operate one of the rock-shafts 42/ to set the devices which determine the particular branch passage to which the letter is to be delivered, as it is not necessary to set a box-gate for these boxes.

83 is a spring-upheld push or key bar having key 83 arranged in the bank with the other keys and bars, and the lower end of this key or push bar is preferably joined pivotally to the locking swinging bail. This extra key and push bar are provided for the purpose of swinging out the bail to release all the keylevers and push-bars when the machine has linished its work for the time being.

It is desirable to provide mechanism whereby the keys and bars operated thereby can be locked or held against movement after one key has been depressed and until the letter caused to be started from the common source by the depression of said key has been delivered into the box for which it started. Otherwise it might be possible for an inexperienced operator to depress a key and set certain lettercontrolling mechanisms to cause delivery of the letter in the proper box and then before said letter has reached its box depress another key and return the propel' gate and stop and set other and wrong gates and stop, and thus cause delivery of the letter to the wrong box by the letter-moving mechanisms first set in operation by the previous depression of the proper key. Various devices can be provided to prevent this accidental operation of the machine or premature depression of a subsequent key. As a convenient lock to accomplish this object and for the purpose of illus- ITO 

